Jan 28, 2019, 9:32 am
Last edit by: JDiver
Winter weather - Chicago link
Information current as of January 28, 2019
If you’re traveling to/through/from:
Chicago, Illinois (ORD)
The change fee may be waived if you:
- Are traveling on an American Airlines flight
- Bought your ticket by January 25, 2019
- Are scheduled to travel January 27 - 31, 2019
- Can travel January 25 - February 3, 2019
- Don't change your origin or destination city
- Rebook in the same cabin or pay the difference
- Change your trip
If your trip is eligible, you can change it online. Here’s how:
- Find your trip
- If your trip is eligible, you’ll see the option to ‘change trip’ in the toolbar
American Airlines Travel Notices and Policy, Resources etc.
(OSO / Off Schedule Operations, System IROPS / Irregular Operations, Weather, etc. affecting AA flyers)
"When severe weather or other uncontrollable events impact your flight and travel dates, you may be able to change your trip with no change fee." (aa.com)
Link to AA PDF "Schedule Irregularity (IROPS) - Travel Agency Guidelines – 001 and 037 tickets"
As of 30 Sep 2017, if you are affected by OSO / IROPS you may be able to rebook yourself using "Dynamic Reaccom" the AA app, a kiosk or on AA.com. See this post for further information.
Posts pertaining to delays and cancellations go in Flight [xx] Cancellation / Delay / Diversion etc. on [date] 2018 (consolidated)
AA Travel alerts
Link to AA Travel Policy / Travel Notices, including existing Weather Waivers
Relaxed change fee policies
How to change your trip (also see "Dynamic Reaccom" above and post #2)
When severe weather or other uncontrollable events impact your flight and travel dates, you may be able to change your trip with no change fee. (In some cases you might have to pay a fare difference.)
If a travel alert affects you, you may be able to change your trip online if:
Link to AA Travel Policy / Travel Notices, including existing Weather Waivers
Relaxed change fee policies
How to change your trip (also see "Dynamic Reaccom" above and post #2)
When severe weather or other uncontrollable events impact your flight and travel dates, you may be able to change your trip with no change fee. (In some cases you might have to pay a fare difference.)
If a travel alert affects you, you may be able to change your trip online if:
- You booked on aa.com or with American Airlines Reservations
- Your travel is within the U.S., Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands
- Look for the 'change trip' button to see if your trip is eligible. If not, please call to change your trip.
Look up your trip
OSO Resources and Tools, Links
Link to AA Travel Policy / Travel Notices, including existing Weather Waivers
Link to AA travel exception policy for travel agents (now withdrawn from being downloaded by the public)
Link to AA Travel Policy / Travel Notices, including existing Weather Waivers
Link to AA travel exception policy for travel agents (now withdrawn from being downloaded by the public)
Off Schedule Operations special numbers (We need verification this number is still in service)
AA OSO (Off-Schedule Operations) Phone: 1.800.446.7834 For those flying AA currently. (THIS NUMBER HAS NOT BEEN VERIFIED FOR 2019)
(Equivalent IROPS for US was the Disrupted Services line: 800.200.9865)
(Only if you are affected, please! Only staffed during OSO events.)
AA OSO (Off-Schedule Operations) Phone: 1.800.446.7834 For those flying AA currently. (THIS NUMBER HAS NOT BEEN VERIFIED FOR 2019)
(Equivalent IROPS for US was the Disrupted Services line: 800.200.9865)
(Only if you are affected, please! Only staffed during OSO events.)
Twitter: @AmericanAir can help. Send them a request they follow you so you can send them DM (Direct Messages), then you can send them your AAdvantage number and EP status,which they can add to their profile on you. Then you can DM them privately with your PNR etc. (You must have a Twitter account.)
Link to Federal Aviation Administration OIS national airspace system status & delays
Link to FAA Air Traffic Control Command Center Advisories page
Link to AA cancelled flights on FlightAware
Link to "Misery Map" USA from FlightAware - see where it's miserable now
Link to North American airport weather delays (FlightStats)
Link to U S airport delays (FlightAware)
Link to cancelled flights (today, to two days out - FlightAware)
Link to FlightAware "Misery Map")
Link to USA Weather Service website
Link to FT thread on PALL List discussing priority for passengers in IROPS, etc.
Thread with alternative numbers (wiki) that can be useful during IROPS: Long wait / delay / hold times for Customer Service / EXP, etc. lines (consolidated)
Link to "AA Protection for OSO / IROPS / IRROPS / Misconnect on Separate AA / oneworld Tickets" thread.
Link to FT Original Routing Credit thread
Link to Federal Aviation Administration OIS national airspace system status & delays
Link to FAA Air Traffic Control Command Center Advisories page
Link to AA cancelled flights on FlightAware
Link to "Misery Map" USA from FlightAware - see where it's miserable now
Link to North American airport weather delays (FlightStats)
Link to U S airport delays (FlightAware)
Link to cancelled flights (today, to two days out - FlightAware)
Link to FlightAware "Misery Map")
Link to USA Weather Service website
Link to FT thread on PALL List discussing priority for passengers in IROPS, etc.
Thread with alternative numbers (wiki) that can be useful during IROPS: Long wait / delay / hold times for Customer Service / EXP, etc. lines (consolidated)
Link to "AA Protection for OSO / IROPS / IRROPS / Misconnect on Separate AA / oneworld Tickets" thread.
Link to FT Original Routing Credit thread
Link to FAA list of aviation terms and abbreviations
Link to Wikipedia list of aviation and aerospace Terms and abbreviations
Note: Normally weather waivers allow no changes to origin or destination, but a number of members have optionally been so accommodated; new dates must be within a few days of the original booking. If your plans are totally hammered (missed my meeting, cruise, etc.) or is interrupted and you can't continue, try the phrase "trip in vain" for cancelling and refunding.
Weather (or other "force majeure") caused delays such as FAA ground holds, etc. will generally not gain payment for overnight hotel accommodation or hotel vouchers.
NOTE: Basic Economy fare holders ARE entitled to reaccommodation on other AA flights without requiring B fares, according to announcements. 23 Aug 2017)
Other ways of contacting AA reservations:
Look up your trip and see if you have the ‘change trip’ button to change it online.
Look up your trip
Link to listing of USA other language than English lines.
Link to worldwide reservations phone numbers.
From outside U.S. can call AA headquarters 1-817-963-1234, use voice menu.
Code:
Call us Within the U.S. Language Phone Hours (CT) English 800-433-7300 24 hours, Daily Spanish 800-633-3711 24 hours, Daily Japanese 800-237-0027 6 a.m. – 12 midnight, Daily Mandarin 800-492-8095 7 a.m. – 12 midnight, Daily Portuguese 866-824-8717 6 a.m. – 7 p.m., Daily Hearing & 800-543-1586 24 hours, Daily speech impaired
From outside U.S. can call AA headquarters 1-817-963-1234, use voice menu.
FAQ
Q. If I'm on an AA award or ticket but the flight is operated by another airline, whom do I call in case of cancellation or IROPS?
Prior to the day of travel, call AA (do so as soon as you become available of changes); on the day of travel, you can call AA but it's appropriate for the operating carrier to reroute and assist you.
Q. The operating carrier canceled or changed my AAdvantage award flight so I'll miss (event, connection, etc.)
AA can change you to AA flights regardless of award seat availability, but they can not force partner airlines to do so. AA may attempt to request the other carrier accommodate you, but the request will be with the carrier's Liaison with AA and may take some time.
Q. When is AA obligated to pay for Hotel in OSO / IROPS?
See this thread with that title.
Q. I’m stuck in xxx for the night! Where do I go now?
Start by reviewing the options (hotels, sleep facilities, lounges, ad hoc sleeping in airports) at http://www.sleepinginairports.net.
Chicago ORD / Midwest cold weather travel waiver late Jan 2019
Jan 28, 2019, 1:52 pm
#17
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
It’s always important to check travel waivers regularly (link in Wikipost). They’ve just changed to
Are scheduled to travel January 27 - 30, 2019
Can travel January 25 - February 3, 2019
and could change yet again as the weather actually manifests itself.
Are scheduled to travel January 27 - 30, 2019
Can travel January 25 - February 3, 2019
and could change yet again as the weather actually manifests itself.
Jan 28, 2019, 2:16 pm
#19
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,629
In short, it does not take strong winds to have the wind chill drop to -65F if the temperature is -20F (a 45 degree 'correction'). Indeed, according to this link, less than 20mph winds will do it. However, if the temperature is +20F, even 40mph winds will not cause a 45-degree 'correction'.
Last edited by SeeBuyFly; Jan 28, 2019 at 3:12 pm
Jan 28, 2019, 6:36 pm
#20
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Joliet, IL
Programs: HHonors Diamond, UA Plat.
Posts: 147
By Tuesday night, temperatures are expected to take another plunge, to 23below zero, flirting with Chicago’s coldest temperature ever: minus 27 on Jan. 20, 1985.
Jan 28, 2019, 9:41 pm
#21
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 2,781
My guess is that most flights after the early evening Tuesday bank through Thursday morning will be cancelled. The issue is not just the Jet A freezing, but all of the ground equipment (catering trucks, bag loaders, etc) needed to support flights. I remember being on one of the last flights out of ORD before the polar vortex descended in 2014 and shut everything down, and it unfolded very similarly.
Jan 29, 2019, 12:24 pm
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,256
Pretty good. Between the cold and wind, things just go slower, which causes delays and cancellations. During the 2014 polar vortex, about a third of flights were cancelled in Chicago. A waiver is up now if you want to change proactively.
Jan 29, 2019, 12:27 pm
#26
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Check on the updated Midwest travel waivers through the link provided in the Wikipost. At this time, they cover flights booked through 31 January, so tomorrow is already included in the current travel waivers.
We have added resource listings and links to the Wikipost at the top of the page.
Moderator
Last edited by JDiver; Jan 29, 2019 at 12:42 pm
Jan 29, 2019, 12:29 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,256
Jan 29, 2019, 12:31 pm
#28
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA ExPlat, Delta GM, Hilton Honors Diamond, Marriott Titanium Elite, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 140
I would definitely avoid checking bags if at all possible - with weather conditions like they're supposed to be, ramp ops are likely to become restricted due to safety concerns.
Jan 29, 2019, 12:37 pm
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,256
You can see how big of a disruption Southwest thinks this will be.
https://flightaware.com/live/cancelled/tomorrow
73% of flights cancelled tomorrow at Chicago-Midway. Other airlines are not being as boldly proactive, but that’s an indicator of just how likely weather is to foul up operations at ORD tomorrow.
https://flightaware.com/live/cancelled/tomorrow
73% of flights cancelled tomorrow at Chicago-Midway. Other airlines are not being as boldly proactive, but that’s an indicator of just how likely weather is to foul up operations at ORD tomorrow.
Jan 29, 2019, 12:44 pm
#30
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Washington DC Metro Area
Programs: A: PP, LTG/1.5M | UA: SLV | Bonvoy LTTi | IHG PLT| Avis PC | Nat'l Emerald Club EE
Posts: 1,067
It is going to be very close to the coldest temperature ever recorded.
